The Garda Computer system, PULSE, has the capacity to generate automated letters to victims of crime. PULSE letters are sent when a crime is reported to An Garda Síochána. It contains the name of the investigating Garda, how to contact the Garda, details of the PULSE incident number and the number of the National Crime Victims Helpline or Irish Tourist Assistance Service as appropriate. A second PULSE letter is sent to an injured party where a person has been made amenable for the crime, including where a person has been charged, summonsed, dealt with by Adult caution or under the Juvenile Diversion Programme.
PULSE letters improve communications with victims of crime through the provision of information and by providing reassurance that their report is being dealt with by An Garda Síochána. The general feedback from victims and victim support organisation has been positive to the PULSE letters.
It can be seen from the table circulated that the number of letters issued in the first two quarters of 2011 was pro rata 11% greater than the number of letters issued in 2010, and was 26% greater than in the first two quarters of 2009.
I am circulating a table containing the information requested.
Pulse Letters to Victims for 2009-2011
Division
|
Year
|
|
2009Quarter 3 & 4*
|
2010
|
2011Quarter 1 & 2
|
Cavan/Monaghan
|
1,041
|
2,123
|
1,086
|
Clare
|
520
|
1,656
|
655
|
Cork City
|
1,700
|
3,883
|
2,101
|
Cork North
|
589
|
1,417
|
896
|
Cork West
|
463
|
981
|
663
|
D.M.R. East
|
1,931
|
4,016
|
1,882
|
D.M.R. North Central
|
3,261
|
5,764
|
3,151
|
D.M.R. North
|
3,535
|
6,777
|
3,627
|
D.M.R. South Central
|
2,254
|
5,603
|
4,078
|
D.M.R. South
|
3,055
|
7,236
|
3,874
|
D.M.R. West
|
4,015
|
8,349
|
5,118
|
Donegal
|
1,022
|
2,358
|
1,271
|
Galway
|
1,607
|
3,006
|
1,155
|
Kerry
|
764
|
1,689
|
779
|
Kildare
|
572
|
1,964
|
1507
|
Kilkenny/Carlow
|
750
|
3,553
|
1915
|
Laois/Offaly
|
977
|
2,200
|
1,267
|
Limerick
|
2,759
|
6,080
|
3,307
|
Louth
|
1,495
|
3,009
|
1,430
|
Mayo
|
420
|
1,746
|
897
|
Meath
|
1,473
|
3,408
|
1,912
|
Roscommon/Longford
|
627
|
1,650
|
910
|
Sligo/Leitrim
|
618
|
1,434
|
859
|
Tipperary
|
971
|
2,216
|
1281
|
Waterford
|
1,637
|
3,767
|
1,774
|
Westmeath
|
843
|
1,529
|
788
|
Wexford
|
1,139
|
2,676
|
1,605
|
Wicklow
|
1,125
|
3,026
|
2,079
|
National Total
|
41,163
|
93,116
|
51,867
|
*Garda Síochána Crime Victims Office, established in Third Quarter 2009